08/05/08

Good place for Italian

by m_raven415

After a wonderful hike in Malibu, we stopped here for dinner. Now I was reluctant to eat Italian since I had it recently. Luckily, the food here was great that I had no probably with eating Italian again. The atmosphere was romantic. The only complaints I had was with the service. The waiter ignored us a good part of the evening. But I would go back again for the food and maybe we will have a better waiter next time.

07/10/08

Great little Italian place

by kiercemartin

Love this place. Great selection of wine, really laid-back and cozy. Great place to take a date for dinner, or even a large group. The service was really helpful, and gave great recommendations--The lobster raviolli is make-you-close-your-eyes good. Parking can be kind of a problem if PCH is busy, but if you get there early it's no problem. If you're looking for a table primetime on the weekend, definitely call ahead as it's a pretty small place. If you're looking to score points call in a to-go order and walk across the street for a beach picnic.

06/07/08

The open air second story patio is perfect for a romantic evening

by tjthurli

Unquestionably the best Italian cuisine in Malibu. If you ask any Malibu local where to eat, 9 of 10 will direct you to this cozy restaurant just down the road from the Malibu Pier, and it's easy to see why. The minute we stepped in, it was obvious we were in for a treat. The cacophony of smells and sounds was incredible, and by the time the hostess had led us on a winding walk through tables laden with some of the most visually appetizing food I've ever seen, we felt right at home. Our waiter was superb. He recommended a bottle of wine to match what we ordered for dinner, and paid us the respect of choosing one in the middle of the price range, rather than simply picking the most expensive one on the list. Our salads were some of the freshest we've ever had at a restaurant, and no less than 5 minutes after we had finished them, our entrees arrived piping hot, and visually stunning. We were in love after the first bite, and even though we were stuffed at the end of the meal we decided to go for a dessert. It was the best decision we made all week. I don't know what was the best part of the evening. The service, atmosphere, and service were truly remarkable, and we're still comparing the food at other restaurants to this one. Next time we find ourselves in Malibu, Allegria will be the first stop we make!

Insider tip - Ask your server to recommend a bottle of wine for you. Allegria has one of the better cellars we've found lately, and they often have special selections that aren't on the regular wine list.

• Pros: Service, food, atmosphere, wine list
• Cons: Parking, especially on weekends

05/17/08

Long wait; slow, hostile service; no free dessert

by perevod

We had a reservation for 8:30 and showed up right on time. They were very nice and apologetic, but we didn't get a table until after 9. We asked for water for all 6 people in our party, and the waitress brought three glasses and said she would bring three more. Ten minutes later, I asked her where the other glasses of water were, and she seemed very annoyed, saying "I told you I was going to bring them right away." Yeah...well...anyways, the food took a long time to prepare. It was good but certainly nothing spectacular. The salad had dressing on it, although we asked for dressing on the side, but by that time everyone was so hungry that we ate it anyways rather than sending it back and waiting another half hour. Anyway, in reading the Citysearch reviews, I saw the coupon which says "Allegria coupon - one free dessert per table with this ad. Print this coupon or mention Citysearch to receive 1 free dessert per table." Apparently I'm not the only person who has had difficulty getting a free dessert. I mentioned the ad, and the server refused to give me a dessert. I asked her to confirm that with the supervisor, and she came back and said I could get a dessert, but it was a complex process requiring me to register online, complete paperwork, etc. I didn't press the issue, and I didn't get a free dessert. I definitely won't be back, and unless you enjoy mediocre Italian food served slowly with an attitude, you'll consider alternatives. In the area, I recommend Paradise Cove and the Marmalade Cafe.

• Pros: We were seated just two tables away from a table where Pierce Brosnan may once have eaten.
• Cons: Service, wait, refusal to honor coupon

03/02/08

Nice place

by jrizal

Nice place, good food and friendly staff--except for our waiter who hostilely rejected the coupon I presented because the expiration date was in 3007. The waiter maintained that it was a misprint. Anyway, I did not argue with him over a free-dessert coupon so I just said to show the coupon to the manager. I said that in a congenial way, mind you, as I did not want the waiter to spray his saliva on our free dessert . Anyway, we did get our free dessert. After all, the manager looked like a reasonable person. But the free dessert did not feel free anymore.

• Pros: Good food, friendly staff
• Cons: One rude waiter

11/22/07

Greatest Dining Experience in Malibu!

by bellarocks

I've been to Allegria many times over the years, and am happy to say that they have raised the bar. The food is consistently wonderful and authentic reminding me of my mom's cooking in Italy. The service staff goes the "extra mile" ,opening the door for me when I come and go, and offering anything they can to make my dinner perfect. Too many places in Malibu seem to rest on there laurels, it's nice to have a place that always treats you like family. I can't recommend a more enjoyable dining experience in Malibu!

09/09/07

Delicious and romantic

by ohcuriousgeorge

I eat here all the time and I love it. The service is great, we always request Carlo. Very authentic atmosphere, and the food is delicious. However it can be a bit inconsistent.

Great place to rbing a date, especially a first date, the lighting makes everyone look attractive and the place is busy but still quiet.

Great lunch and dinner!!

• Pros: atmosphere, food, romantic
• Cons: service can be slow, tarragon sauce is horrible

06/07/07

great pizza

by alfredo35

carlos is the best he is so nice,make my date and I feel so special, good job and great food, if you go there ask for carlos and run away from the italians servers if you want some good service

06/01/07

CONSISTENTLY EXCELLENT

by jessthehorse

I think the prior reviewer might have been having withdrawl from Pizza Hut. Allegria has long been one of my wife and my favorite local places and is possibly the most consistant that I know of. Even among the higher end places, my complaint is often the inconsistancy but Allegria is batting around 990. Although not dirt cheap it is very affordable compared to other places serving comparable cuisine. Regarding the complaints about service, I have very rarely found them slow enough to complain about however if you are in a huge hurry to eat and make the theatre or some such, maybe you should consider Denny's. The service is what I would call relatively relaxed and layed back but never rude. I prefer a waiter who is conversational and relaxed to one who drools on you and makes you feel uncomfortable trying to treat you like royalty. I don't see how anyone with a sophisticated pallette could not love Allegria. The pizza mare is simply killer with shrimp, baby clams in the shell and calamari and the sea food is always exceptional.

• Pros: Best Pizza Mare' on the planet, my wife is a fan of the Risotto dishes
• Cons: Probably best if you are not lookin to eat and run, a place to relax and enjoy the meal

03/21/07

All around wonderful experience

by kayaavalon

My husband and I had the pleasure of dining at Allegria in Malibu last weekend. Not only was the food incredibly good the service was excellent and the manager even came to our table to introduce himself and make sure our dining experience was excellent, which it was. The pasta was the best I have ever had and my husbands osso buco was superb. The wine list was quite extensive and the server was very helpful in choosing an excellent wine to go with my meal. Overall we had such a great dining experience, I will definetly be back many, many times to Allegria. So if you love great Italian food and a romantic atmosphere I would tell you go to Allegria you will not be disappointed!

• Pros: Ambience, food, service, wine
• Cons: none